In summer 2012, a serious fire broke out in a flat above a newsagents on the main parade in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.

Chorleywood

In summer 2012, a serious fire broke out in a flat above a newsagents on the main parade in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire. Our client owned the whole block, comprising separately let retail units on the ground floor, and six residential flats above. The blaze destroyed the flat where it started, and caused extensive damage to the other properties.

We attended the scene the day after the fire. Our in-house chartered surveyor/director Alan Hintz compiled a team to determine the scope of the damage, and evaluate the initial works needed to protect the building from further damage. Being involved from the outset allowed us to prepare a suitable strategy to help the owner recover the building and cause minimum disruption to the tenants.

We had the property stripped out in order to identify the full extent of the damage as early as possible. This allowed for the construction of a complex temporary roof, which enabled tenants to return to their properties, and business owners to continue trading where possible. Our early investigations revealed that the damage was worse than had initially been expected, as the fire had risen up through the building and caused damage to the roof.

Having investigated the full reach of the damage, we made sure the entire roof was replaced. Despite the extensive repairs and rebuilding, only the flat where the fire occurred remained closed for the duration of the project, and the other properties were affected for a relatively minimal period. Involving us from the start enabled us to deliver a quick and thorough response that suited the tenants as well as our client.